Side swing carriage with center hold down clamp



July 13, 1965 LE GRAND H. LULL SIDE SWING CARRIAGE WITH CENTER HOLD DOWN CLAMP Filed April 25, 1,963

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 1965 LE GRAND H. LULL 3,194,421

SIDE SWING CARRIAGE WITH CENTER HOLD DOWN CLAMP Filed April 25, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 N I/ /00 F1610 INVENTOR. LE GRAND H. LULL United States Patent This invention relates to mobile loaders of the type having a front end load engaging structure; in particular, it concerns a mobile loader having a side swing carriage. This application is a continuation-in-part of my application entitled Side Swing Carriage for Loaders and the Like, filed November 8, 1961, hearing Serial Number 151,004.

The mobile loader shown and described in the aforementioned application is characterized by a laterally fixed frame mounted on the front end of a longitudinally extending boom to which a load engaging frame is pivotally mounted for side swinging movements about a pivot axis on one side of the fixed frame. The load engaging frame is equipped with a pair of laterally spaced hold down clamping members that are mounted above a pair of laterally spaced forwardly extending lifting tines. In this application, certain additional structural features are set forth which increase the utility of the loader by enabling it to handle articles of various lengths with equal facility. Moreover, the present application discloses structural features which give the loader increased capabilities with respect to the problem of handling heavy elongated loads such as utility poles, logs, structural timbers and the like without damaging them.

It is an object of this invention to provide a side swing carriage for a mobile loader that is capable of handling loads of different lengths and diameters without changing parts or removing any of the structural elements.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a side swing carriage for mobile loaders a new and improved center hold down clamp that is mounted upon the carriage in such a manner as not to interfere with its side swinging capabilities.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a load engaging structure for mobile loaders novel and improved means for engaging the articles carried by the clamping members of the structure without damaging them.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide novel and improved structure at the end of the clamping members of a load engaging carriage adapted to resist damaging the articles handled by the carriage.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more fully apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of a loader embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top view of the loader shown in FIG- URE 1 with dotted lines showing the load engaging carriage in a side position;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the carriage embodying the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a front view of the carriage embodying the invention showing the center clamping means in a raised position and the side hold down clamps in a lowered article engaging position;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 with the tion and the side hold down clamps in a raised position;

3,l94,42l Fatented July I3, 1965 FIGURE 6 is a slightly enlarged fragmentary side view taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a slightly enlarged fragmentary view taken on the line 77 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged side view of the center clamping means making up part of the invention, the dotted lines illustrating the raised retracted position thereof;

FIGURE 9 is a view, partially in section, taken on the line 9 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a side view of one of the side hold down clamps used in the carriage of the invention; and

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged elevation view, partially in section, taken on the line 1l l1 of FIGURE 10.

The invention provides a side swing carriage for mobile loaders of the type having a forwardly extending boom. The carriage is characterized by a pair of forwardly extending lifting tines or forks and a pair of side hold down clamps pivotally mounted on the carriage over the forks for use primarily in handling long heavy articles such as utility poles, sawlogs, structural timbers and the like. In addition, a pivotal center hold down clamp is provided which serves as a useful auxiliary load engaging means for handling shorter articles such as pulp wood, box bolts and the like. The invention also provides means for protecting the articles handled by the load engaging elements of the carriage. This means includes a strip of resilient material mounted on the undersurface of the side hold down clamps and a specially designed forward end load engaging structure for the side and center hold down clamps.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, there is shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 a mobile loader A having a forwardly extending pivotal boom structure B upon which my side swing carriage C is pivotally mounted, as at 20, for rocking movement in a generally vertical plane. I-Iydraulic means 22 are provided for imparting rocking movements to carriage C about axis 20. Carriage C, as shown in FIGURE 3, is characterized by an inner frame 30 that is laterally fixed with respect to the axis of boom B and an outer load engaging frame 40 that is swingably mounted in surrounding relatioin to inner frame 30 and adapted to pivot'thereabout on a generally vertical axis adjacent one side thereof. Inner frame 39 is made up of a plurality of vertical tubular members 31 connected at their top and bottom by a pair of spaced horizontal tubular members 32. At one side of frame 30 a continuous pivot member 33 is carried within vertical member 31a and extends above and below fixed frame 30 to provide mounting means, as at 3112, for the swingable outer load engaging frame 4! Outer load engaging frame 40 is centrally open and is made up of top and bottom horizontal tubular members 41 and side tubular members 42 which surroundingly enclose fixed frame 30 when swingable frame 4% is pivoted about member 33 to a lateral position. Hydraulic means 50, secured at one end to a bracket 51 mounted on an upstanding member 52 secured to the rear of fixed frame 30 and at the other end to a bracket 53 on swingable frame 40, is operable to pivot swingable frame 46 from a forwardly facing position in surrounding relation to fixed frame 3% as indicated by the solid lines of FIGURE 2, to a generally side facing position, as indicated by the dotted lines of FIGURE 2.

Further provided are lifting tines or forks 55 removably mounted on the side members 42 of swingable frame 40 by means of upper brackets 56 and lower brackets 57. Side hold down clamps 69 are carried in vertically spaced relation to forks 55 by means of vertical link members 61 which are connected intermediate their length to upper and lower crank members 62, 63, pivotally mounted, as at 64, 65, respectively, to side members 42 of swingable frame 4%. Means for imparting load engaging clamping part of the present application.

One of the pivotal features of this invention resides in the provision of a center hold clamping means, indi cated generally by the reference character D, which is adapted to furnish auxiliary clamping means for carriage C without interfering with the normal operation of carriage C in any position. Center hold down clamping means D includes a rigid forwardly extending bracket 7 constructed of laterally spaced parallel members 71, 72 secured at their rear to top horizontal member 41 on each side of the central vertical axis of the outer frame 40. An upstanding link structure 74 consisting of upwardly converging plates 75, 76 is pivotally secured, as at 77, 78, to a lateral pin 73 connecting the forward ends of members 71, 72, respectively, of bracket 70. Also pivotally secured to pin 73 at the forward end of bracket 70 is a downwardly and forwardly extending clamping arm 80 which is adapted to cooperate with lifting forks 55 to clampingly engage articles therebetween.

Clamping arm 80 consists of a pair of forwardly ex tending downwardly curved laterally spaced side rails 81 connected at their front ends by an elongated generally cylindrical load engaging pin 81a. Intermediate the length of side rails 81 a spacer 81b is provided for mounting bracket '90 and pin 89. Between spacer 81b and pin 81a a plate 810 is provided between side rails 81. Means for actuating clamipng arm 89 into and out of a clamping position with respect to lifting forks 55 include hydraulic jack 82 having one end thereof pivotally conis pivotally secured atone end to pin 89 carried by bracket.

90. The other end of jack 87 is pivotally secured to a pin 91 carried between plates 75, 76 of upstanding link structure 74 at a position in front of and lower than pin 83.

The features described result in a double pivoted clamping arm assembly that can be'rocked in a vertical plane about the axis defined by lateral pin 73 at the forward end of bracket 70. The pivotal upper link structure 74 permits clamping arm 80 to be swung upwardly out of the way of side hold down clamps 60 when it is desired to use carriage C for handling long heavy articles of the type discussed previously, as shown in FIGURE 4 of the drawings. When shorter lengths are handled, side hold down clamps 60 are raised out of the way to permit clamping arm 80 to function in cooperation with lifting arms 55, as shown in FIGURE 5. Thus the range of usefulness of carriage C is extended to enable poles, logs and similar articles of any length to be loaded, carried, and deposited with equal ease and efficiency The particular manner in which clamping means D is secured to carriage C permits the unrestricted movement of outer load engaging frame about pivot member 33 either into a side facing position or into a forward facing nested relationship with inner fixed frame 30.

The load engaging pin 81a of clamping arm 80 'provides protection against surface damage for articles that are clamped between arm 80 and lifting forks 55, as shown in FIGURE 7. This feature is also present in side hold down clamps 60 by virtue of the elongated generally cylindrical load engaging pins 95. secured to the forward edges thereof.

Further provided for each side hold down clamp 60 is a strip 100 of suitable resilient material, such as -90 durometer neoprene rubber, mounted on the undersurface 101 of clamp 66. As shown in FIGURES 1O and ll, the strip of resilient material is held between depending side ribs 102 of clamp 60 and extends substantially the entire lengthof the undersurface 101., The strip 100 is thick enough to extend'below the edges of ribs 102 resulting in a coplanar load engaging surface. Bolts 103 are recessed into strip 1% into fastening engagement with the body of clamp 60, as shown in FIGURE 11.

The invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be entirely satisfactory for the use intended. From the foregoing description,'taken in connection wtih the drawings, the construction and mode of operation of my improved side swing carriage for mobile loaders will be readily understood without a further and extended de: scription. Its advantages are thatit is extremely versatile in operation and reliable and efficient in construction. While the construction shown is preferred, it will, of course, be understood that changes in the form, construction and arrangement of parts may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. I claim:

1. In a' carriage for loaders of the type having a forwardly extending boom including a laterally fixed frame secured to the front end of said boom, continuous pivot means carried at one side of and extending above and below said fixed frame, a load engaging frame mounted on said pivot means in surrounding relation to said fixed frame, actuating means for imparting side swinging movements to said load engaging frame, the combination of a forwardly extending centrally positioned clamping member support structure mounted on said load engaging frame above said fixed frame and below said actuating means, an upstanding link structure pivoted at its lower end to the forward end of said'support structure, a forwardly extending clamping member pivoted at its rear end to the forward end of said support structure, first hydraulic means connected to said upstanding link structure and to said clamping member for pivoting said clamping member relative to said support structure, and second hydraulic means connected to said upstanding link structure and to said load engaging frame above said fixed frame and below said actuating means for pivoting said link structure relative to said support structure.

2. The device set forth in claim 1 wherein said first hydraulic means is connected to said upstanding link structure below the connection of said second hydraulic means to said upstanding link structure.

3. In a carriage for loaders of the type having a forwardly extending boom including a load engaging frame carried by the front end of said boom, a pair of laterally spaced forwardly extending lift arms mounted on said frame, upper and lower crank members pivotally carried by said frame above each of said lift arms, verticallink members pivotally connected to each of said upper and lower crank members and extending therebelow, a side hold down clamp carried by the lower end of said link members above said lift arms, hydraulic means connected to said frame and to said lower crank members operable to effect clamping engagement of articles carried between said side hold down' clamps and said lift arms, the combination of center hold down clamping means mounted on said frame between said crank members, said center clamping means including forwardly extending support means secured to said frame, upstanding link structure pivotally secured to the forward end' of said support means, a downwardly and forwardly extending clamping arm pivotally secured to the forward end of said support meansfirstactuating means connected to said upstanding link structure and operable to effect swinging movements of said clamping arm from a downwardly pivoted load clamping position to an upwardly open position, and second actuating means connected to said load engaging frame operable to effect swinging movements of said link structure.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said first actuating means is secured to said upstanding link structure below the connection of said second actuating means therewith.

5. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said side hold down clamps are provided with a layer of resilient material, said layer of resilient material extending below the undersurface of said hold down clamps.

6. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said side hold down clamps and said clamping arm are provided with a laterally extending generally cylindrical forward load engaging surface.

7. In a carriage for loaders of the type having a forwardly extending boom, a load engaging frame carried by the front end of said boom, a pair of laterally spaced forwardly extending lift arms mounted on said frame, upper and lower crank members pivotally carried by said frame above each of said lift arms, vertical link members pivotally connected to each of said upper and lower crank members and extending therebelow, a hold down clamp carried by the lower end of said link members above said lift arms, hydraulic means connected to said frame and to said lower crank members operable to effect clamping engagement of articles carried between said hold down clamps and said lift arms, and a layer of resilient material secured to and extending below the under surface of said hold down clamps.

8. The combination set forth in claim '7 wherein said hold down clamps are provided with a laterally extending generally cylindrical forward load engaging surface.

9. In a carriage for loaders of the type having a forwardly extending boom, a load engaging frame carried by the front end of said born, a pair of laterally spaced forwardly extending lift arms mounted on said frame, upper and lower crank members pivotally carried by said frame above each of said lift arms, vertical link members pivotally connected to each of said upper and lower crank members and extending therebelow, a hold down clamp carried by the lower end of said link members above said lift arms, hydraulic means connected to said frame and to said lower crank members operable to effect clamping engagement of articles carried between said hold down clamps and said lift arms, and a laterally extending generally cylindrical load engaging pin secured to the forward end of said hold down clamps.

References flited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 924,723 6/09 Bartholomew. 1,895,649 1/33 Butts 294-104 2,611,497 9/52 Backofen 214-654 2,768,018 10/56 Echmann 214-653 X 2,875,913 3/59 Gohrke et al. 214-654 2,896,806 7/59 Vossenberg 214-730 2,997,193 8/61 Dunham 214-654 HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A CARRIAGE FOR LOADERS OF THE TYPE HAVING A FORWARDLY EXTENDING BOOM INCLUDING A LATERALLY FIXED FRAME SECURED TO THE FRONT END OF SAID BOOM, CONTINUOUS PIVOT LEANS CARRIED AT ONE SIDE OF AND EXTENDING ABOVE AND BELOW SAID FIXED FRAME, A LOAD ENGAGING FRAME MOUNTED ON SAID PIVOT MEANS IN SURROUNDING RELATION TO SAID FIXED FRAME, ACTUATING MEANS FOR IMPARTING SIDE SWINGING MOVEMENTS TO SAID LOAD ENGAGING FRAME, THE COMBINATION OF A FORWARDLY EXTENDING CENTRALLY POSITIONED CLAMPING MEMBER SUPPORT STRUCTURE MOUNTED ON SAID LOAD ENGAGING FRAME ABOVE SAID FIXED FRAME AND BELOW SAID ACTUATING MEANS, AN UPSTANDING LINK STRUCTURE PIVOTED AT ITS LOWER END TO THE FORWARD END OF SAID SUPPORT STRUCTURE, A FORWARDLY EXTENDING CLAMPING MEMBER PIVOTED AT ITS REAR END TO THE FORWARD END OF SAID SUPPORT STRUCTURE, FIRST HYDRAULIC MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID UPSTANDING LINK STRUCTURE AND TO SAID CLAMPING MEMBER FOR PIVOTING SAID CLAMPING MEMBER RELATIVE TO SAID SUPPORT STRUCTURE, AND SECOND HYDRAULIC MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID UPSTANDING LINK STRUCTURE AND TO SAID LOAD ENGAGING FRAME ABOVE SAID FIXED FRAME AND BELOW SAID ACTUATING MEANS FOR PIVOTING SAID LINK STRUCTURE RELATIVE TO SAID SUPPORT STRUCTURE. 